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He’d admitted as much to me in one of his emails, and I can hear the sincerity in his voice now.
“Thank you for being honest,” I say softly.
“You’re welcome. Now will you repay the favor and tell me what that inquisition was about?”
I push out of my chair and walk over to the windows that look out into the main office space. Then I flip a switch on the wall and the smart glass frosts over in an instant.
“I want to say that’s cool and a little disconcerting at the same time,” he says in a wary tone. “What don’t we want witnesses for?”
Smiling, I glance at him over my shoulder. “Managers appreciate this convenience when I call them on the carpet. And on occasion, I appreciate my privacy.”
Especially when you’re preparing to humiliate yourself and have your proposal rejected out of hand?
Especially then.
“Now I’ll tell you my problem. Do you remember what I said when you asked why I’d moved here?”
He’s turned his chair slightly to face me, his strong thighs spread in a casual posture that makes me notice things I shouldn’t.
Business, Tani.
“Your parents,” he says immediately. “You said your family was old fashioned in the extreme, and that you needed a change of scenery.”
“Those were understatements, but still true.”
As he looks at me, I’ve never been more aware of my flaws. I’m short. I’m small—breasts included. I don’t wear short pencil skirts or attention-grabbing heels.
You can’t, because you’re wearing a prosthetic leg instead.
I never forget that, thank you.
He can see all of that, but it’s the flaws he can’t see that I have to share with him now. It’s only fair. I already know more about his life than I’m sure he’s comfortable with. And I want us on even ground.
“My family is old fashioned. So much so that they aren’t talking to me right now,” I tell him, not hiding how much the thought upsets me. “I’m partially to blame for the whole shunning thing. I kept secrets from them, things I didn’t share until my hand was forced.”
“I haven’t known you that long, but that doesn’t sound like you.”
My gesture encompasses my office. “I built this with Joey. The initial business, the West Coast offices, all of it. I’m an equal partner, and I’m proud of what we’ve done together. But I let my parents believe I was his secretary for the last seven years. That he gave me the job because of our friendship, instead of my investment and acumen.”
Emerson is frowning now. “Why would you do that?”
To keep the peace? To keep my family intact? It’s complicated.
“In the past, every time I tried to talk about starting a company or going to college to major in business, I got a pat on the head and a reminder that s
ome things weren’t meant for me. It wasn’t mean-spirited, you understand, it was how they were raised. How they were raising us. They believed my brother Arush had the head for business, and that my other brother Niraj would marry well. And they believed that I was meant to be taken care of, not only because I’m a woman but because of this.” I touch my thigh in explanation. “The only child they were right about is Niraj. He’s a romantic and handsome devil, and girls follow him around like he’s Harry Styles. But I don’t need to be taken care of. And Arush is a horrible businessman. He always has been.”
I can’t look at him for this last bit. “Which is how he managed to land himself in the kind of debt he thought he could repay by offering his only sister’s hand in marriage instead of cash.”
“He did what?” The anger in his voice makes the skin on the back of my neck tingle. Anger on my behalf.
He leans forward in his chair as if he wants to get up and fight someone, but my brother isn’t here to confront him. It’s an encouraging reaction.
At least we agree that Arush sucks.
“It gets better,” I say wryly. “The loan was from a widower with children who went to school with Niraj. Someone my parents knew and respected, so from their perspective this was a blessing.”
I step over to my desk and grab a sip of tea. My throat feels tight again. “Their complete disregard for my arguments, along with the very idea that I would accept my brother’s commandment was the final straw for me. I lost my temper. I told them the truth, everything about my business and financial situation to show them I didn’t need my marriage arranged, and that I could make my own choices. That I could easily pay off Arush’s debt myself.”
